Not having a university degree does not mean you have to accept a low-paying job. A new data from SEEK shows that many occupations in Australia have very high advertised salaries even though they do not require workers to possess a university degree. Notably, a number of occupations in the engineering, skilled worker, construction, mechanical and operations groups have average advertised salaries exceeding 100,000 AUD/year, with some positions even reaching more than 160,000 AUD/year.
This is noteworthy information for students, study abroad and Vietnamese workers who are looking for a practical career path in Australia.
Not going to college doesn’t mean you can’t have a high income
A fairly common notion is that if you want to have a good income in Australia, you must go to university. Reality is not quite like that. Data from SEEK shows that many high-paying jobs are built on skills, vocational certifications, licensure, practical experience and management ability, rather than solely on a college degree. This is especially evident in the technical and commercial industries. SEEK also emphasizes that these jobs are not low-skill jobs. Workers may still have to undergo specialized training, obtain licensing, and gain practical experience before achieving high income levels.
In other words:
- No college degree needed ≠ no schooling needed.
- You still have to invest in skills, certifications, and experience to build career value.
Occupations that do not require a university degree have high advertised salaries in Australia
According to average advertised salary data published by SEEK in a 7NEWS article, some prominent positions include:
| Occupation | Average advertised salary/year |
|---|---|
| Heavy diesel repairer | 167,210 AUD |
| Auto electrician | 163,611 AUD |
| Construction site manager | 151,099 AUD |
| Healthcare facility manager | 151,099 AUD |
| Site foreman | 143,807 AUD |
| Maintenance manager | 139,668 AUD |
| Manager money salary | 138,439 AUD |
| Electrician | 137,966 AUD |
| Licensed aircraft maintenance engineer | 134,305 AUD |
| Marketing manager | 115,973 AUD |
It’s worth noting that this list is not just about tradesmen.
Some management positions also appear in the high income group. This shows that career paths can develop from skilled to management positions, instead of necessarily starting with a university degree.
Note: This is the average advertised salary according to SEEK data cited in the article, not the guaranteed salary that everyone in that profession receives. Actual income depends on experience, license, region, business, expertise and job level.
Why do construction and engineering occupations in Australia have high salaries?
One of the important reasons is the shortage of skilled human resources. When a job requires years of training and experience, the number of people qualified to take on the job is smaller. For industries such as mechanical, electrical, maintenance, construction or mining, businesses need more than just someone who “knows how to do it”. They need people with the ability to: do the right technique → meet safety standards → have the appropriate certificate/license → handle problems → take responsibility for the work.
When human resources that meet these requirements are scarce, salaries for professionals also tend to increase.
The construction industry is creating many opportunities
According to data cited by SEEK, advertising salaries in the construction industry increased by 5.2%, making construction one of the industries with a notable advertising salary growth rate. The need to build infrastructure and housing continues to create demand for experienced positions. In particular, positions such as Construction Site Manager or Foreperson not only require an understanding of construction techniques but also the ability to manage progress, subcontractors, personnel and safety requirements at the construction site.
This is the reason why a person starting from a technical or mechanic career can develop to higher-income management positions after accumulating enough experience.
Electrical profession: A notable direction
Electrician – electrician is one of the occupations appearing on the list with an average advertised salary of about 137,966 AUD/year. This is a fairly typical example of a profession where professional value lies largely in skills and practice license. Beginners cannot simply take a short-term course and immediately receive a salary of over 100,000 AUD.
Typically, workers need to undergo vocational training, practice, gain experience and meet relevant licensing requirements. But this process itself creates an advantage: As skills and experience increase, the value of workers in the market also increases.
Mechanics and mining are also notable groups.
Topping the list is Heavy Diesel Fitter, with an average advertising salary of up to 167,210 AUD/year. Auto electricians also earn about 163,611 AUD/year. These are all occupations that require technical knowledge and practical experience. In particular, the Mining, Resources and Energy industry has been identified by SEEK as one of the important drivers that helps salaries of some technical occupations remain high. Part of the reason comes from the characteristics of the industry. Many jobs related to mining and resources are located in remote areas or areas that require highly specialized human resources. Workers must have appropriate skills and be able to work in a specific environment. Therefore, it is not true that choosing a profession on the high salary list means you can immediately receive a corresponding salary.
Work location, experience and expertise still play a huge role.
Important point: High salaries often come with high expertise
This is something students and Apprenticeship → practice → work → gain experience → improve expertise → get the necessary license/certificate → advance to a professional or management position → increase income.
This is a long-term process.
Should Vietnamese international students consider vocational training in Australia?
If your goal is not necessarily to get a university degree but to build a practical career with skills and income growth, then vocational education in Australia is a direction worth investigating. Industries such as construction, mechanical engineering, electrical, automotive, maintenance and some engineering fields can offer good career opportunities for people with the right qualifications. However, choosing a major should not be based solely on the question: “How much does this job pay?” You should ask more important questions: Is this industry suitable for your abilities? How long does it take to get enough skills? Is a license required? Are job opportunities concentrated in the city or regional area? Salary for people How much is it to start? What position can I progress to after 3–5 years?
And if your long-term goal is related to working and settling in Australia, you need to check the requirements visa and occupation at the time of planning. You should not choose a major just because you see a high salary figure on a recruitment advertisement.
Vocational training is not a “shortcut”
This is perhaps the most important message from the SEEK data. Not having a college degree doesn’t mean taking shortcuts. You are just choosing a different path. Instead of spending years focusing on academic knowledge, some careers require you to spend more time on practice, vocational skills, certifications, licenses, and practical experience. And when you become skilled, the labor market can pay for that ability.
For some people, this may be a more suitable path than studying a university major just because “everyone goes to university”.
If you are preparing to study in Australia, choose a major based on your career goals.
One of the common mistakes of international students is to choose a major based on school name or tuition fee, then think about work. A more realistic approach is to go backwards: What career do I want to do? -> What skills is needed in the Australian market? -> What qualifications, certificates or licenses does that job require? -> Is there a suitable training program? -> How can I develop my career after graduation? When you can answer these questions, choosing a course will be much more reasonable.
SEEK data cited by 7NEWS shows that a university degree is not the only path to achieving a high income in Australia. Engineering, construction, mechanical, electrical, maintenance and some management positions are seeing very notable advertised salaries. Some positions on the list even have an average advertised salary of over 150,000 AUD/year. But behind those numbers is workmanship, training, licensing and years of experience. So, if you are preparing to study abroad in Australia, don’t just ask: “Which industry is paying well?” Ask: “What industry is right for me, what skills are needed in Australia and how can I build that career in the next 3–5 years?” That’s how to turn a choice of study into a real career plan.
Reference source: 7NEWS
